Overview

Have you ever wondered how or why you make the choices you do? In Psychology of Decision Making, you'll explore the hidden psychological processes that lead you to make good decisions, and those that can lead you astray. For example, when you try to decide whether someone is trustworthy, do you focus on the right information? How are your emotions affecting the decision? Are you deciding based on what is true, or based on what you want to be true? How much are other people biasing your decision? By the end of the course, you'll understand how these factors influence your decisions and how you can best anticipate and correct for the errors you're likely to make. Created by the American Psychological Association, written by experts in the field, and based on decades of psychological science, Psychology of Decision Making will be a valuable resource for anyone trying to understand and improve their decisions.

Syllabus

Learn With PsycLearn Essentials

This module introduces you to your PsycLearn Essentials course. Find out what’s included in this course and how to navigate the modules and lessons. You’ll also learn valuable study tips for successful learning.

The Psychology of Decision Making

This module will introduce the psychology of decision making. The term “decision making” will be defined and then the intrapersonal and interpersonal influences on decisions will be introduced.

Cognitive Influences on Decision Making

This module discusses cognitive processes that influence decision making, including schemas, cognitive heuristics and biases, attributions, affect, and attitudes.

Motivational Influences on Decision Making

In this module on motivational influences we discuss behavior that can be considered goal-directed. There are times when we are making a decision and in doing so we want to achieve a certain outcome. We seek outcomes that satisfy a psychological need, such as seeing ourselves as competent, affiliating with others, or maintaining psychological consistency.

Influence of Others on Decision Making

In this module, on influences of others on decision making, we will discuss social influences that involve the direct interaction of two or more people. We will cover theories of persuasion, in which individuals try to convince us to hold a certain attitude, knowing that our attitudes guide our decisions. We will also cover compliance and obedience, two other types of social influence.

Influence of Groups on Decision Making

This module discusses how group dynamics influence decision making, including conformity, groupthink, group polarization, and deindividuation.

Intergroup Influences on Decision Making

This module discusses how stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination influence decision making.

Course Summary

Every day we make decisions that influence our lives. This course examined the psychology of decision making, including intrapersonal and interpersonal influences, cognitive and motivational processes, and the influence of other individuals, group dynamics, and intergroup relations.

Cumulative Quiz

This module contains a cumulative quiz.

Course Resources
PsycLearn Essentials APA Student Resources

This module provides a variety of information and tools from the American Psychological Association (APA) that will help inspire you as you complete your coursework and plan your career goals. Explore APA resources on various psychological issues and scholarly research and writing; a list of sites providing valuable resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion in psychology education and in the professional community; resources on a career in psychology; and links to career opportunities at the APA.